Release Notes

A summary of recent updates to the Asset Score tool, including new features, capabilities and improvements are documented in the Release History below. Known issues that have not yet been addressed are listed on the Known Issues page.

01.09.2018Release 2018.1.0

New Features

Added live version of the Audit Template, an audit data reporting feature. Access to this feature no longer requires beta access permission

Added the capability to attach documents, such as signed audit certificates, to audit report submittals in the Audit Template

Updated the HVAC Systems Distribution Equipment input options in the HVAC screen of the Audit Template to include a separate section for ventilation systems. Air supply and exhaust location fields were added for New York City reports

Removed the Building Location Specifications section from the Audit Template

Added the capability to allow user entered data for annual energy use by energy source, and a check box to toggle this capability with calculated values from monthly energy use in the Audit Template

Added a section in the Utility Data and Benchmarking of the Audit Template for a user to identify the available energy supply sources in a building

Added a user confirmation email capability for submitted buildings in the Audit Template

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Corrected an issue with the toolbar in the Audit Template which was not advancing screens for open tabs in selected browsers

Updated Audit Template User Guide to include instructions and guidance for recent updates to fields, sections, and capabilities in New York City reports

11.29.2017Release 4.2.0

New Features

Added the capability to identify percentages of common and tenant areas in building use types for New York City reports in the Audit Template

Added the capability to identify common and tenant areas served per use type for lighting fixture types and HVAC systems for New York City reports in the Audit Template

Updated the date format for date fields in the Audit Template to be consistent among all browsers

Added a ‘Remove All’ capability for the Metered and Delivered Energy screens of the Audit Template

Updated the HVAC Systems Distribution Equipment input options in the HVAC screen of the Audit Template to include Delivery Equipment Type and Central Distribution Type fields

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Corrected an issue in the Audit Template where data entered in the Submission Information screen would not save, which prevented Atlanta and New York City reports from being submitted

11.02.2017Release 4.1.2

New Features

Added a Signature Interface for San Francisco Audit Template reports

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Corrected an issue with creating windows on blocks with an entry of 0.75 window to wall ratio which was causing buildings to fail

Corrected an issue with the configuration of shared DOAS HVAC systems which had caused some buildings to fail

Corrected an issue with assigning water heaters to blocks which was generating an error

Corrected an issue with the submission date for Audit Template reports

Updated the BBL field label and display in New York City Audit Template reports

09.29.2017Release 4.1

New Features

Implemented the capability to record Process Load data for New York City reports in the Audit Template

Implemented the capability to allow sharing of Metered and Delivered Energy data between multiple buildings on a single property for New York City reports in the Audit Template

Implemented the capability to allow sharing of Energy Savings Opportunity packages between multiple buildings on a single property for New York City reports in the Audit Template

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Corrected an issue with Preview buildings which was allowing the selection of Below Grade Walls, which caused buildings to fail

Corrected an issue with the calculation of terminal reheat systems which were causing errors in some Multi-family and Warehouse buildings

Corrected an issue with the display of the ratings report available for group batch runs

Asset Score Release History

08.30.2017Release 4.0

New Features

Implemented the capability to enter multiple buildings on a single property for New York City reports in the Audit Template

Implemented the capability to allow sharing of HVAC systems and Service Hot Water System between multiple buildings on a single property for New York City reports in the Audit Template

Updated the available and required fields in the Audit Template for New York city reports

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Corrected an HVAC issue with a DOAS combined with a Primary Heating/Cooling System with 'No Cooling' selected, which caused buildings to fail

Corrected an issue where changes to linked Condenser Loops were causing buildings to fail

Added a validation check when assigning lighting fixtures to blocks, which prevents more than 40 fixture types to be assigned per block

08.18.2017Release 3.4.0

New Features

Replaced Adobe Flash multimedia platform with JavaScript 3D as the interface for the 3-D graphical display and onscreen interactions of buildings in Full Input mode*

Added a capability to identify incorrectly aligned surfaces in the 3D user interface. These would be indicated through a red colored line in the 3D user interface

Renamed the audit data reporting platform feature that is being developed to collect, store and report building energy audit data, to 'Audit Template'

Updated the Audit Template Quick Start Guide and User Guide

Updated the available and required fields in the Audit Template for Atlanta and San Francisco city reports

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Corrected an issue with the distribution type field in air handler units for Parking Garages with Ventilation Only HVAC systems, which caused buildings to fail

Corrected an issue with the ERV field in air handler units for Parking Garages with Ventilation Only HVAC systems, which caused buildings to fail

Corrected an issue with the display of the Cooling Retrofitted date for Preview buildings

Corrected an issue with the display of the HVAC and lighting calculations, N/A checkboxes, and pdf reports for Audit Template buildings

*Note: Asset Score users are now able to view all of the ‘Full Input Mode’ interfaces on PC’s, tablets, and mobile devices. PNNL has replaced Adobe Flash with threeJS to provide 3-D display and interactions. The Flash replacement is to ensure that existing 3-D features and interactions are available across computing platforms using mouse-based interactions. We do not yet recommend interaction with the 3D feature using a touch-screen display because the “drag and drop” function to assign building characteristics to buildings blocks are limited to using mouse-based interactions. Currently, we do not expect the more complex 3-D editing features to be performed using a touch-screen display. As we move forward, we anticipate providing additional features that will make Asset Score a viable tool for mobile / touch-screen usage. The Asset Score team would appreciate your feedback on what tools and capabilities you would find useful to have on a mobile touch-screen device in the field.

06.02.2017Release 3.3.2

New Features

Posted Overview and Demonstration videos and several Conference Papers to the Resources page

Added the capability to auto populate Heating and Cooling Source fields when selecting System Types for Zone Equipment

Added the capability to assign a Secondary Heating/Cooling System containing Baseboards as the Heating Source to a block

Added the capability to enter a Secondary heating fraction value to a block with both a Secondary Heating/Cooling System and either a PTAC or FPFCU Primary Heating/Cooling System assigned

Combined the Download Report and Download Model buttons available for scored buildings to a single Download button that launches a pull down selection

Added audit reporting templates for City of Atlanta and City of San Francisco for the audit data reporting platform feature

Expanded the ‘Submit to City’ capability for the audit data reporting platform feature. Reports submitted to cities will only include inputs required by a city. In-Progress reports include all audit data inputs.

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Updated the Data Collection Forms and Users Guide to reflect the addition of baseboards and window air conditioners as options for HVAC systems

Corrected an issue with the geometry layout of buildings with enclosed blocks that had resulted in errors when submitting buildings for a score

Backend system improvements for administrators

04.05.2017Release 3.2.2

New Features

Implemented a revised approach for modeling slab-on-grade floors and below-grade walls using F and C factors

07.11.2016Release 2.1.3

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Corrected an issue with selecting a hot water plant loop as the reheat source for a terminal unit

Corrected an issue with deleting condenser loops linked to cooling

Updated the score calculation formulas to prevent an issue where the potential score was lower than the current score for some buildings

06.17.2016Release 2.1.2

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Added HVAC system sizing capability to improve the calculation of the minimum system inputs for fan size, air flow, and outdoor air

Backend system improvements for administrators

Expected Score Changes

The new HVAC system sizing capability may result in a 0.5-1.5 point score decrease for buildings with high ventilation rates, such as schools, courthouses, medical offices, post offices and police stations. These would only be seen for buildings with multi-zone air-handling units.

06.08.2016Release 2.1.1

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Corrected an issue with assigning lighting fixtures to blocks with unassigned use types

Corrected an issue with the display of the registration page for new users

Corrected an issue with launching the Help Desk contact form

Corrected an issue with assigning plants to blocks

06.01.2016Release 2.1.0

New Features

Updated the user interface (UI) with new style and navigation

Added ability to create common HVAC systems through single step system type definition

Added capability to model water loop heat pump (WLHP) HVAC systems

Modified the data entry selection process for plant equipment

Added capability to provide custom names to assets and surfaces for easier identification and reference

Added a new Help Desk feature for asking questions and providing feedback

Added a new Community Forum

Replaced Asset Score Help with a new User Guide

Added permission selection for sharing building data with the Building Performance Database (BPD) to the registration page

Added Assessment Type data entry field to distinguish between real or test buildings

Corrected an issue where daylight sensors were added to plenum zones which caused buildings to fail

Corrected an issue which prevented modeling of windows for buildings with high window-to-wall ratios

Expected Score Changes

The corrected issue which prevented modeling of windows for buildings with high window-to-wall ratios may result in a 0.5-3 point score decrease

The bug fixes implemented for EnergyPlus V8.4 results in lower heating energy use. Some buildings may see a 0.5-1.0 point increase

03.10.2016Release 2.0.3

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Added validations for invalid block dimensions for L, T, and U shaped blocks. Previously, invalid entries had prevented blocks from displaying on the screen and edits with invalid block dimensions entered for existing blocks have resulted in errors when attempting to score the building..

02.26.2016Release 2.0.2

New Features

Posted a newly released Journal of Building Performance Simulation article outlining the Scoring Methodology of Asset Score to the Resources page.

Changed the link and updated the layout of the Release Notes page to include seperate sections for Known Issues and Future Updates.

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Corrected an issue with the Preview score calculation that gave negative score values for some buildings.

Corrected an issue with editing the Window Layout of adjacent blocks which had resulted in error notifications for some buildings.

Corrected an issue with assigning Zone Equipment to Parking Garages which had resulted in an error.

Corrected an issue which was preventing the user-entered Gross Floor Area from appearing on reports. Reports for buildings created before 01/25/2016 may need to be re-downloaded to see this field displayed on the report.

02.12.2016Release 2.0.1

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Corrected an issue with editing window layout. The capability to edit windows assigned to a block adjacent to another block has been restored.

Corrected the gross floor area calculations for the Building Assets section of the Asset Score Reports.

Removed the Window-to-Wall Ratio display for Discrete windows that had been displaying the Continuous Window-to-Wall Ratio values on the Building Info page.

Corrected an issue that was generating a failure notification when attempting to score Preview buildings with Parking Garages.

Added the capability to model dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) HVAC systems.

Added the capability to select reheat sources for terminal units.

Added AHU and Zone equipment identifiers to help with assigning HVAC systems to blocks.

Removed the requirement to assign walls and a window-to-wall ratio to interior surfaces when they are 100 percent adjacent.

Simulation Infrastructure Improvements and Fixes

Updated the short and long versions of the Data Collection Forms for Full input mode to include new data entry options for HVAC systems.

Posted updated Example Score Reports for single and mixed-use buildings scored in full input mode.

Posted a new version of the Program Overview and Technical Protocol.

Updated the Help file to include information for entering and simulating buildings in Preview input mode.

Updated the LED fixture that was mapped in FEDS to correct an issue with the calculated lighting power density appearing too high.

Added default value for fan efficiency input for air handling units.

Fixed the schedule of operation of HVAC systems for a few use types which was resulting in unmet load hours during warm up and cool down periods.

Score scales have been updated to reflect the new tool capabilities and simulation improvements. User's might see a change in scores for buildings scored before 01/25/2016.

The Structure and Systems rankings have been updated for several use types to reflect the new capabilities added to the tool. The rankings for a few use types are still under development and will be updated in the next interim release.